Credit

Caption

Lyme disease bacteria. Light micrograph, using phase contrast, of a spiral-shaped Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium (at centre), the cause of Lyme disease in humans. The bacteria are passed on to humans by the bites of several species of ticks. The ticks can also infest domestic dogs. Symptoms of Lyme disease include skin lesions, muscle pain, neurological and cardiac abnormalities, and arthritis. Treatment includes antibiotic and corticosteroid drugs. Phase contrast imaging reduces the colour saturation of objects but improves the level of detail which can be seen. Magnification: x1000 at 35mm size.